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WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Selection of EU News

With an EU referendumin 2017 now ‘certain’, we provide a selection of recent EU news that will directly impact on the UK:

EU News: Unaccompanied minors’ asylum applications - EU asylum applications for unaccompanied minors should be processed in the EU country where the child is present,even if this is not where the child first applied, said Civil Liberties Committee MEPs. The amendments aim to clarify Dublin Regulation rules.

either to take measures to reduce annual average consumption of plastic bags to 90 lightweight bags per citizen by the end of 2019 and 40 by the end of 2025

or ensure that by the end of 2018, no more light plastic bags are handed over free of charge to shoppers.

Alcoholic drinks should state calorie content, say MEPs - Plans for labelling the calorie content of alcoholic beverages should be tabled by the EC at the latest in 2016, said MEPs on Wednesday. The resolution calls for a new EU Alcohol Strategy focusing on alcohol consumption by minors and EU-wide labelling to discourage drink driving & drinking while pregnant.

Experts to discuss the EU diaspora & mobility issues at the high-level event in Riga - Taking into account the fact that in recent years Latvia has experienced the voluntary emigration of an unprecedented number of citizens, the Latvian EU Presidency will organise a conference on diverse aspects of intra-EU mobility and the free movement of persons, as well as the role of European diasporas, at the same time addressing new challenges that EU Member States encounter.

Tax rulings: “We need a common corporate tax base”, says Commissioner - Why did the EU Commission take so long to launch investigations into member states’ tax rulings? Is its strategy to go only after small countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Ireland? Will the instruments available to it suffice? And if not, what would it take to do away with unfair tax competition? These questions were raised by MEPs in Tuesday’s Special Tax Rulings Committee debate with competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

Package holiday protection: MEPs strike a deal with Council - Travellers putting together their own package holidays online will get the same protection as those buying from traditional travel agents under a provisional deal struck by MEPs and Council negotiators on Tuesday. The deal also strengthens holidaymakers’ rights, by enabling them to cancel a package deal contract if its price rises by more than 8%, get help if they encounter difficulties or get transport home if a tour operator goes bust.

Fair trials: MEPs strengthen EU-wide standards for legal aid - People who are suspected or accused of a crime, or are named in a European Arrest Warrant, but cannot afford a lawyer or court proceedings, should have access to EU member state funding & assistance for both ‘provisional’ and ‘ordinary’ legal aid, say Civil Liberties MEPs in amendments, voted on Wednesday, to a proposed EU directive on fair trial rights.

** With just over 2 years to go to the EU Referendum, you can keep up-to-date by checking out theEU Legislation, Initiatives, etcsection of the WGPlus newsletter each week, or by adding the EU News channel to your WiredGov profile.

Meeting Local Government Workforce Management Challenges – New White Paper

The National Audit Office has outlined the cost savings achieved already by local authorities through efficiency improvements, cuts to services, reductions in staff numbers and changes to infrastructure. However, further budget cuts are planned, which means local authorities need to find additional ways to improve efficiency and control costs - if services and staff numbers are to be maintained.

This new white paper explains how the latest workforce management solutions are enabling local authorities to:

Save as much as 1.4% of your annual payroll costs by reducing payroll errors

The most fundamental reform to homelessness legislation in over 30 years has come into force across Wales. The main objective of the law is to ensure people who are homeless or facing homelessness receive help as early as possible. The legislation places a duty on local authorities to work with people who are at risk of losing their home within 56 days to help find a solution to their problems. It is hoped the new provisions will prevent 3 out of 4 people at risk of homelessness from losing their home.

techUK welcome MEPs recognition of the opportunities big data can offer Europe and discussion regarding big data's role in driving economic growth, innovation and job creation. Big data offers some of the greatest opportunities for innovation in the new digital world, but also presents potential risks & challenges to be addressed by industry & government working together. Addressing concerns relating to the privacy & security of big data will be crucial to ensuring organisations, both in the public & private sector, and consumers have trust & confidence in big data.

The Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government has proposed additional intervention powers for the commissioners to order Tower Hamlets to take any actions needed to safeguard good governance throughout the council until a new mayor and top officer team are in place and fully bedded in.

Ofcom has announced changes that will make the cost of enteringphone-ins, competitions and votes on TV and radio programmessimpler to understand. Broadcasters often invite people to interact with shows in this way using phone numbers starting 084, 087 and 09. From 1 July 2015, the cost of calling those numbers will be made up of two parts: an ‘access charge’ going to the caller’s phone company, and a ‘service charge’ set by the broadcaster.

All TV & radio programmes using the numbers - from talent shows to quizzes, phone-ins and entertainment programmes offering a prize - will include the service charge for calling. Clear prices are important because the cost of interacting with programmes varies considerably. Some calls may cost a few pence, but others may cost more than £2 per minute.

The deadline for entries for the Kate Granger Compassionate Care Awards is now less than 3 weeks away. The awards, which will be staged for second successive year at the Health and Innovation Expo 2015, will close to submissions of 29 May 2015. The awards are named after Kate Granger, the terminally ill doctor who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness around compassion in the NHS through her #hellomynameis social media campaign.

From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA. It was introduced to display driving licence details that could not be included on the photocard. These details include some vehicle categories you are entitled to drive & any endorsement/penalty points. This does not affect photocard licences issued by DVA in Northern Ireland.

Council communication teams can learn about the cutting-edge digital work going on across local government thanks to a newly-launched online resource. The LGA and Comms2point0 have launched Digital Councils, a hub for local government on all things social media.